"Given current forecasts, it does not appear that Fay will impact Shell Gulf of Mexico assets, therefore, we have concluded evacuations," the company said in a statement.

"As a precautionary measure, Shell had reduced staffing levels by evacuating 425 personnel (...) If the storm remains on its current track, there will be no further evacuations and we now begin planning the safe redeployment of those personnel," it added.

Oil prices rose on Monday as traders worried about the potential effect of Fay on energy facilities in the Gulf of Mexico.

Tropical storm Fay moved towards hurricane strength on Monday as it struck Cuba and headed toward the Florida Keys after claiming more than 40 lives in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica.

Maximum sustained winds from the sixth storm of the current Atlantic hurricane season were clocked at 96 kilometers (60 miles) per hour, the Miami-based US National Hurricane Center said.

The center said Fay was expected "to be approaching hurricane strength in Florida Keys and to become a hurricane before it reached the Florida Peninsula" on Tuesday.

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